Annuitant Trustee passes away

October 4, 2019

IMRF Annuitant Trustee Sharon U. Thompson died on October 3, 2019.

Thompson, the Board Secretary and Legislative Committee Chairperson during 2019, served more than two decades as an IMRF Trustee. She first served from 1993 to 1994 as an Executive Trustee, representing the units of government that participate in IMRF. After her retirement, IMRF retirees elected her Annuitant Trustee four separate times. Thompson held the role from January 2001 until her death. In 2019 alone, she represented 133,261 retirees. In total she served 21 years on the IMRF Board. She was the second-longest tenured Trustee in IMRF history.

As one of the eight members of the IMRF Board of Trustees, Thompson was responsible for the administration of the IMRF pension system, including the prudent management of its retirement assets. The Board has many significant responsibilities, including the approval of IMRF’s Strategic Plan and the hiring of an Executive Director.

During her tenure, IMRF assets grew from about $16 billion in 2001 to more than $40 billion today. At the time of her death, IMRF’s funded status was more than 90 percent, and the organization had won numerous awards for customer service.

IMRF Executive Director Brian Collins said that IMRF staff members are deeply saddened by Thompson’s passing and extend condolences to her family.

“Sharon dedicated two decades of her life to the service of IMRF members and employers,” Collins said. “As a Trustee, she helped chart a course for IMRF to become one of the leading public pension systems in the nation. The entire IMRF family is grateful to Sharon and her family for her many years of passion and dedication. We will miss her very much.”

A resident of Dixon, Illinois, Thompson served 20 years as the Lee County Treasurer. She was a past president of both the Illinois County Treasurers’ Association and the Illinois Association of County Officials.

The IMRF website provides a brief summary of IMRF benefits and the administration of those benefits. IMRF members' and employers' rights and obligations are governed by Article 7 of the Illinois Pension Code. Statements on the IMRF website are general, and the Illinois state law governing IMRF is complex and specific. If a conflict arises between information in the IMRF website and the law, all decisions are based on the law.